Press for forming granular material

ABSTRACT

A press for the preparation of granular cattle feed or similar material and of the kind comprising an annular radially perforated die and a drum mounted co-axially with the die and provided with a central feeding port, the die and drum being mounted for rotation around a stationary support fitted with a number of pressure rollers, each freely rotatable on a stationary shaft and in contact with the interior of the die, characterised in that the angle of the axis of rotation of the die and the drum relative to a horizontal plane is approximately between 20* and 40*.

United States Patent [191 Heesen [451 Aug. 14, 1973 1 1 PRESS FOR FORMING GRANULAR MATERIAL Theodorus Jacobus Heesen, Boxtel, Netherlands Assignee: Simon-Heesen N.V., Boxtel,

Netherlands Filed: Oct. 14, 1911 Appl. No.: 189,241

Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 30, 1970 Netherlands..... 7015940 Us. or. 425/331 Int. Cl B29! 3/012 Field of Search. 425/331, 363, 365

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,059,486 11/1936 Payne et a1. 425/331 X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spicer, Jr. Attorney-Norris & Bateman [S 7] ABSTRACT A press for the preparation of granular cattle feed or similar material and of the kind comprising an annular radially perforated die and a drum mounted co-axially 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure F 1 2a r is Y 25 1\.

1 28 20 as 3e I 47 st /szi an. r 4 y 1 2 32 6 x PRESSFOR FORMING GRANULAR MATERIAL This invention concerns a press for the preparation of granular cattle feed or similar material and of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to), comprising an annular radially perforated die and a drum mounted co-axially with the die and provided with a central feeding port, the die and drum being mounted for rotation around a stationary support, fitted with a number of pressure rollers, each freely rotatable on a stationary shaft, and in contact with the interior of the die.

in known presses of thekind referred to and wherein the axis of rotation of the die is horizontal, there is a problem in that the distribution of the produce is often rather uneven, due partly to the large angle through which the material supply must pass. It is also known to provide presses wherein the axis of rotation of the die is vertical, and in this case very uneven distribution of material over the face of the die occurs and die replacement is much more difficult than with a horizontal axis of rotation. Poor material distribution results in an inferior product and excessive wear of the die.

It is an object of the invention to provide a press which overcomes, at least to some extent, the difficulties aforesaid.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided a press of the kind referred to, characterised in that the angle of the axis of rotation of the die and drum relative to a horizontal plane is approximately between 20 and 40.

Furthermore, the central feeding port of the drum is preferably formed by a truncated conical flange, coaxial with said axis of rotation, the angle between opposed wall portions of the truncated conical flange lying between 80 and 100.

Still further, the centre line of the feeding chute forms an angle relative to a vertical plane of between 10 and 20 and the generatrix of the drum flange through its lowest point is substantially parallel to, or coincides with, the generatrix of the feed chute passing through the lowest point of the mouth of said feed chute.

The invention will become further apparent from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the single FIGURE of the'accompanying drawing, which illustrates in vertical section a press made in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings there is provided a housing 1 in which is mounted a stationary flanged bearing bush 5, fixed to a collar 4 of the housing 1 by means of bolts 2. A stationary inclined supporting shaft 6 is located in the collar 4 and bush by means of ring wedges 7 and 8. A plate 10 is fixed to the shaft 6 by means of a nut 9 and by means of tensioning bolts 11 which connect the plate 10 to the ring wedge 7. A key 12 is fittedbetween the shaft 6 and ring wedge 8.

The upper end of inclined shaft 6 is provided with a central recess which receives a pivot 13 mounted on a bearing plate 14 which is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft 6 by means not shown on the drawing. The bearing plate 14 is provided with tapered recesses 15 each having a central projection 17 extending upwardly from the base of the recess. The projections 17 have central tapped holes to receive pins 16. The pins 16 serve to secure the tapered tail ends of stationary shafts 23 in the associated recesses 15 by means of nuts l8, distance rings 19, a common plate 20, distance rings 21 and collar bushes 22. The stationary shafts 23 each have an eccentric roller track 24, such that the radial positions of the roller tracks 24 in relation to shaft 6 are adjustable by rotation of shafts 23.

Attached to housing 1 isan auxiliary housing 26 embodying a discharge chute 27 and :a feeding port which comprises a feeding chute 28. Also attached to housing 1 is a drive unit 29.

An inclined hollow shaft 33 is mounted for rotation around shaft 6 by means of roller bearings 31, 32. Rollers 32 are fixed in relation to hollow shaft 33 by means of a shoulder on the shaft and ring nuts. Rollers 31 are fixed in relation to flanged bearing bush 5 andconsequently in relation to bearing shaft 6, in a similar manner. A bevel gearwheel 36 is fixed to a flange 34- on the hollow shaft 33, by means of bolts 35. The gearwheel 36 meshes with a pinion 37 mounted on the shaft of a chainwheel 38 which is driven by a chainwheel 40 of drive unit 29, via a chain 39.

At the upper end of hollow shaft. 33 there is provided a supporting flange 41 having a ring groove 42 with a tapered outer edge in which a die ring 44 is secured by means of wedge elements 43 fixed within the groove 42.

A drum 45 is fixed by means of bolts to the outer end face of die ring 44 remote from supporting flange 41. The drum 45 has an open mouth formed by a tapering flange 46 of truncated conical form, which, with enough clearance to allow for free rotation, communicates with the open lower end of the feeding chute 28.

Pressure rollers 47, which are mounted on the roller tracks 24 of the fixed shafts 23 via roller bearings 48, are in contact with the inner periphery of the die ring 44. The axial positions of pressure rollers 47 and their bearing assemblies are determined by collars and end screw rings (not shown).

A jacket 49 is attached to the outer periphery of the supporting flange 41, which is in contact, at its end remote from flange 41, with seals for the sealing of auxiliary housing 26 in relation to housing 1.

A plurality of distribution members, one of which is indicated in the drawing at 25, are rigidly mounted on the common plate 20. The members 25 serve to distribute material fed to the drum 45 evenly around the latter and thus evenly into contact with the die ring 44.

The inclined angle of the shaft 6 and thus that of the axis of rotation of the die 44 and drum 45 relative to a horizontal plane is between 20 and 40.

Furthermore, the angle between opposed wall portions of the truncated conical drum flange 46 lies between and and the centre line of the feeding chute 28 forms an angle relative to a vertical plane of between 10 and 20.

Still further, the generatrix of the drum flange 46 through the lowest point thereof is substantially parallel to, or coincides with, the generatrix of the feed chute 28 passing through the lowest point of the mouth of the chute.

A press of the kind referred to and made in accordance with the invention provides particularly satisfactory results, whilst avoiding the difficulties which arise, on the one hand in the case of a vertically disposed die wherein the die and rollers are difficult to replace, there is uneven material distribution, and excessive wear in the lower region of the die, and on the other hand in the case of a horizontally disposed die wherein there is a difficulty in feeding, and excessive wear of the end region of the die adjacent the feed chute.

It will beappreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A press for the preparation of granular feed or similar material and of the kind comprising an annular radially perforated die and a drum mounted co-axially with the die and provided with a central feeding port, the die. and drum being mounted for rotation around a stationary support fitted with a plurality of pressure rollers, each pressure roller being freely rotatable on a stationary shaft and in contact with the inner periphery of the die, characterized in that the axes of rotation of said pressure rollers are parallel to that of the die and drum and the angle of the axis of rotation of the die and the drum relative to a horizontal plane is approximately between and 40.

I 2. A press according to claim'l, wherein the central feeding port of the drum is formed by a truncated conical flange co-axial with said axis of rotation, the angle between opposed wall portions of the truncated conical flange lying between and 3. A press according to claim 1, wherein a feeding chute is mounted to deliver material into said drum and the centre line of said feeding chute forms an angle relative to a vertical plane of between 10 and 20.

4. A press according to claim 2, wherein a feeding chute is mounted to deliver material into said drum. said chute being inclined at an acute angle relative to a vertical plane and the generatrix of the drum flange through the lowest point of said drum flange is substantially parallel to or coincides with, the generatrix of the feed chute passing through the lowest point of said chute.

5. A press according to claim '1, wherein there is provided stationary material distribution means within said drum.

* t t i 

1. A press for the preparation of granular feed or similar material and of the kind comprising an annular radially perforated die and a drum mounted co-axially with the die and provided with a central feeding port, the die and drum being mounted for rotation around a stationary support fitted with a plurality of pressure rollers, each pressure roller being freely rotatable on a stationary shaft and in contact with the inner periphery of the die, characterized in that the axes of rotation of said pressure rollers are parallel to that of the die and drum and the angle of the axis of rotation of the die and the drum relative to a horizontal plane is approximately between 20* and 40*.
 2. A press according to claim 1, wherein the central feeding port of the drum is formed by a truncated conical flange co-axial with said axis of rotation, the angle between opposed wall portions of the truncated conical flange lying between 80* and 100*.
 3. A press according to claim 1, wherein a feeding chute is mounted to deliver material into said drum and the centre line of said feeding chute forms an angle relative to a vertical plane of between 10* and 20*.
 4. A press according to claim 2, wherein a feeding chute is mounted to deliver material into said drum, said chute being inclined at an acute angle relative to a vertical plane and the generatrix of the drum flange through the lowest point of said drum flange is substantially parallel to or coincides with, the generatrix of the feed chute passing through the lowest point of said chute.
 5. A press according to claim 1, wherein there is provided stationary material distribution means within said drum. 